People participate in a stargazing activity led by Greg McKay of the Las Vegas Astronomical Society at the Furnace Creek Golf Course at the Oasis at Death Valley in Death Valley National Park, Calif, on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

People, as seen looking east from Zabriskie Point, make their way up a ridge before sunset in Death Valley National Park, Calif, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

People take in a view of sunrise from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park, Calif, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Early morning light touches rock formations as seen from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park, Calif, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Early morning light at Badwater Basin as mountains in the Panamint Range tower above at Death Valley in Death Valley National Park, Calif, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Light cast on part of the Black Mountains is reflected from Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, Calif, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

A line of hikers climbs up to Angels Landing at Zion National Park on May 28. The park set another visitation record in 2017. Brian Farner

Hikers line up on the Angels Landing Trail at Zion National Park on May 28. More than 4.5 million people visited the Utah park in 2017, marking the fourth straight year of record attendance. Brian Farner

People kept pouring into Zion National Park last year, even as officials there continued work on a plan aimed at controlling the crush.

The Utah park 160 miles northeast of Las Vegas set yet another attendance record in 2017 with more than 4.5 million visitors. That extends a streak of record-breaking years that began in 2014, when visitation at Zion topped 3 million for the first time.

The park service is now considering a year-round online reservation system for access to Zion’s most popular trails and attractions as part of a visitor-use management plan slated for completion late this year.

Though the park covers almost 147,000 acres, nearly all of the visitation is concentrated along the roughly five miles of road leading up the Virgin River and into Zion Canyon, where visitors sometimes face hourslong waits at the main entrance and long lines at restrooms, shuttle stops and even on hiking trails.

The park has just 1,200 parking spots for the more than 10,000 people who stop there on an average day.

Far from dead

Meanwhile, Death Valley National Park came within about 30 tour buses of setting a new attendance record in 2017.

The park 100 miles west of Las Vegas counted just over 1.29 million visitors last year. That’s 1,456 people short of the official all-time mark set in 2016, when visitors flocked to Death Valley to experience a “super bloom” of wildflowers and mark the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

Neither of those factors were in play last year, but Death Valley still saw its second-highest attendance on record.

Superintendent Mike Reynolds isn’t surprised.

“You can spend a lifetime here and not see everything,” he said in a written statement. “The scenery is vast and inspiring.”

At 3.4 million acres, Death Valley is the largest national park in the lower 48 states. Most of the park is located in California, but two small portions extend into Nevada’s Nye and Esmeralda counties.

The park service uses a formula to determine visitor volume at the park based on data from traffic counters on major roads leading into Death Valley, information from hotel operators, and passenger counts from the air strip at Furnace Creek.

2016 broke records

Death Valley attracted just 9,970 visitors in 1933, the year it was designated as a national monument.

Among national parks in region, Death Valley, Zion, Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon and Great Basin all saw unprecedented traffic in 2016, helping the park service to a systemwide record of almost 331 million visitors during its centennial year.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area fell short of its visitation record in 2016, but still attracted 7.2 million people, good for seventh on the list of the nation’s busiest park sites.

The park service has not yet released its complete visitor statistics for 2017.

Lake Mead officials hope to have their numbers from last year finalized this week. The figures for the park service as a whole should come out later this month.

Educators dressed in red have taken to the streets to demand more for their students.

Educators dressed in red have taken to the streets to demand more for their students. Educators from around the State are bringing the Red for Ed movement to the steps of the Nevada Legislature in Carson City, NV, and to the Grant Sawyer Building in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Nature Conservancy Ranch

The Nature Conservancy just bought the 900-acre 7J Ranch at the headwaters of the Amargosa River, north of Beatty. The property could become a research station, though ranching will continue.

Swift water rescue at Durango Wash in Las Vegas

On Thursday, February 14, 2019, at approximately 8:42 a.m., the Clark County Fire Department responded to a report of a swift water incident where people were trapped in the Durango wash which is located near 8771 Halcon Ave. Personnel found one person who was trapped in the flood channel. The individual was transported to the hospital in stable condition. Video by Clark County Fire & Rescue.

Flooding at E Cheyenne in N. Las Vegas Blvd.

Quick Weather Around the Strip

Rain hits Las Vegas, but that doesn't stop people from heading out to the Strip. (Mat Luschek/Review-Journal)

Matt Stutzman who was born without arms shoots arrows with his feet and hits the bullseye with remarkable accuracy. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Secretary of Air Force Emphasizes the Importance of Nellis AFB

US Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited Nellis Air Force Base during Red Flag training and described how important the base is to the military.

Former Northwest Academy student speaks out

Tanner Reynolds, 13, with his mother Angela McDonald, speaks out on his experience as a former student of Northwest Academy in Amargosa Valley, which includes abuse by staff member Caleb Michael Hill. Hill, 29, was arrested Jan. 29 by the Nye County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of child abuse.

Former Northwest Academy students speak out

Tristan Groom, 15, and his brother Jade Gaastra, 23, speak out on their experiences as former students of Northwest Academy in Amargosa Valley, which includes abuse by staff and excessive medication.

Disruption At Metro PD OIS Presser

A man claiming to be part of the press refused to leave a press conference at Metro police headquarters, Wednesday January 30, 2019. Officers were forced to physically remove the man. (Mat Luschek/Review-Journal)

Clients at Las Vegas’ Homeless Courtyard talk about their experience

Clients at Las Vegas’ Homeless Courtyard talk about their experience after the city began operating around the clock. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Lists of costs for procedures, drugs and devices are now posted the websites of hospitals to comply with a new federal rule designed to provide additional consumer transparency. Good luck figuring out what they mean.

People in Mesquite deal with a massive power outage

People in Mesquite respond to a major power outage in the area on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. (Mat Luschek/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Group helping stranded motorists during power outage

A group of Good Samaritans are offering free gas to people in need at the Glendale AM/PM, during a massive power outage near Mesquite on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. (Mat Luschek/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen falls at Las Vegas parade

U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada fell and injured her wrist at the Martin Luther King Day parade in Las Vegas on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. (Nathan Asselin/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Local astronomers host super blood wolf moon viewing

The Las Vegas Astronomical Society paired with the College of Southern Nevada to host a lunar eclipse viewing Sunday night. Known as the super blood wolf moon, the astronomical event won't occur for another 18 years. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae

Tate Elementary shows academic progress after categorical funding

Students at Tate Elementary in Las Vegas has benefited from a program to boost education funding in targeted student populations, known as categorical funding. One program called Zoom helps students who have fallen below grade level in reading. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

The third annual Women’s March in Las Vegas

The third annual Women’s March in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @btesfaye

First former felon to work for Nevada Department of Corrections

After his father died, Michael Russell struggled for years with drug addiction. When he finally decided to change for good, he got sober and worked for years to help others. Now he is the first former felon to be hired by the Nevada Department of Corrections. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae

Three Square helps TSA workers

Three Square Food Bank donated over 400 care bags to TSA workers affected by the government shutdown Wednesday, filled with food, personal hygiene products and water.

Las Vegas furniture store donates to Clark County firehouses

Walker Furniture donated new mattresses to all 30 Clark County firehouses in the Las Vegas Valley, starting today with Station 22. (Mat Luschek/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Snow accumulated in the Las Vegas Valley for the first time in more than a decade, with snow falling mostly in the western, northwestern and southern areas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review Journal) @bizutesfaye

Snow and ice contributed to the closure of Interstate 15 near Primm. Jim Prather/Las Vegas Review-Journal

I-15 traffic diverted at St. Rose Parkway

The Nevada Highway Patrol has closed Interstate 15 in both directions between south Las Vegas and the California state line due to icy road conditions, Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Jim Prather/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Ice on roadway shuts down I-15 south of Las Vegas

An overnight snowstorm left an icy roadway, causing the Nevada Highway Patrol to shut down Interstate 15 south of Las Vegas to the California state line. (Jim Prather/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

I-15 closed at St. Rose Parkway

Ice on Interstate 15 caused the Nevada Highway Patrol to close the highway from St. Rose Parkway in south Las Vegas to the California state line on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Jim Prather/Las Vegas Review-Journal)